A debate over widening Imperial Highway, which first became an issue more than two years ago, continues to rage. The Organization of Unified and Concerned Homeowners, a citizens group known as OUCH, opposes the city's proposal to expand the highway and has declared that it will have enough signatures on petitions to put the issue on the November ballot.

In move that has drawn the ire of the mayor, members of a group called OUCH have started a petition drive to prevent the city from widening Imperial Highway. The group, whose full name is the Organization of Unified and Concerned Homeowners, opposes the city's proposed expansion of the highway from one lane in each direction to two or three lanes each in some locations. They fear it would would increase traffic and require unsightly sound walls in the city.

Plans to ease congestion and bottlenecks on Imperial Highway through Yorba Linda took a step forward with the approval of an $800,000 design contract. "Traffic is going to flow a lot better. The street's going to be a lot more attractive," Councilman Gene Wisner said. The Orange County Transportation Authority has designated $20 million in Measure M money through its "smart streets" program to widen and beautify Imperial Highway, Councilman John M. Gullixson said.

First, Caltrans called it a Super Street, then a Smart Street. Now some residents and local business owners say the planned widening of Imperial Highway will result in nothing more than a freeway that will cut through the center of town. "Don't be fooled!" proclaimed a flyer posted around town. "The people at Caltrans are talking about a 55-m.p.h. speed limit. There will be six lanes from Los Angeles to Lakeview (Avenue), four lanes from Orangethorpe and eight lanes to Anaheim Hills.

A traffic light began operating this week at Imperial Highway and Prospect Avenue, an area where residents have complained about the heavy traffic in their neighborhood. And while city officials say the light will decrease traffic on nearby residential streets, some residents are not convinced. The light was installed as part of a $350,000 state-funded project to improve traffic flow on Imperial. It will also give residents another place to cross Imperial Highway.

There may be light at the end of the tunnel for motorists who have put up with long, slow freight trains blocking Imperial Highway, the primary route to the Riverside Freeway for residents living on Yorba Linda's east side. City officials have been frustrated in efforts to obtain a remedy from the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad, but now, with passenger trains planned for the tracks, relief may be in sight.

The city hopes to slow down speeding motorists on El Cajon Avenue by installing four speed humps on the street between Valley View and Prospect avenues. Many residents who live on the street have been after the city to do something to bring speeds down. The posted speed limit on the residential street is 30 m.p.h., but residents say motorists often reach 50 m.p.h. "A major problem on the street is that there are no sidewalks," said Erwin Hettervik, an El Cajon resident.

A compromise plan to close one end of Brooklyn Avenue was approved this week by the City Council. In an effort to appease residents near the busy street, the council Tuesday approved a plan to erect a temporary barricade on Brooklyn Avenue and instructed the city engineer to resume a traffic study of all the surrounding streets. The compromise came after three hours of testimony from more than three dozen residents who are divided over the plan to close Brooklyn Avenue at 4th Street.

Responding to requests from a crowd of more than 200 residents, the City Council voted not to endorse plans to turn Imperial Highway into a super-street. After a heated public hearing on Wednesday, the council voted to take no position on the project, making Yorba Linda the only one of the six cities along the route of the $23-million project not to endorse it.